Slicing machine



Feb, 11, 1936. w. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 11, 1936. w. J. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet: 2

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Application January 15, 1934, Serial No. 706,713

5 Claims. (Cl. 146-102) My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines and has for one purpose the provision of improved supporting and guiding means for the gauge plate of a slicing machine. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a plan View with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3, with the parts in a different position; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings A indicates any suitable base which may include, for example, the horizontal channel member generally indicated as A in Figure 4. Mounted upon the base is a rotary knife B provided with a knife shaft B rotatably mounted on any suitable bearing within the sleeve portion B 13 is a driving pulley about which may pass a driving belt B to any suitable pulley not herein shown but associated with the motor B which is also mounted on the base A.

The forward face of the knife is substantially masked as by a guard plate C. It is offset as at C to permit it to penetrate the hollow of the knife B. It will be understood that the axis of the knife is inclined slightly from perpendicularity to the face of the guard plate C.

Mounted for reciprocation across the face and past the cutting edge of the knife is a carriage structure generally indicated as D which is mounted, for example, on tracks D and is provided with a work receiving trough D and a pusher plate D mounted on any suitable guide D for movement toward and away from the cutting plane.

E is any suitable slice receiving member or tray which is mounted to the rear of the cutting plane, and is provided with a forward flange E which may be at or near the cutting plane of the knife.

G generally indicates the gauge plate which is in general parallelism with the plane of the guard plate 0. The gauge plate, as shown, is a simple flat plate which may be of metal and which has an arcuate edge G conforming generally to the cutting arc of the knife. G indicates generally a supporting member having an upward extension or flange G to which the lower edge of the gauge plate G is secured as by the screws G It will be noted that the lower edge of the gauge plate extends downwardly as at G somewhat below the lower face of the flange G this face lying in a generally horizontal plane. G indicates a vertical face of the member G Which is generally parallel with the outer face of the flange E of the slice receiver E. It will H be observed that when the gauge plate is in its forward position, as shown for example in Figure 2, the lower edge G of the gauge plate G lies in the plane of the flange E and closely approaches the upper edge of that flange. When the parts are in a different position with the gauge plate withdrawn from the cutting plane, the member or flange G substantially overhangs the flange E but may be spaced some- What away from it as the overhang of the edge G prevents the penetration of the material into the space between the opposed faces of E and G The member G is secured as by the screws G to a sliding member G which may, if desired, be a casting. It includes the two bosses G and G and an additional or associated boss G adjacent or forming part of the boss G The bosses G and G are provided with cylindrical apertures whereby they are slidably mounted on the pins G G there is a fairly tight fit between theboss G and the pin G On the contrary, the boss G has an aperture of somewhat greater diameter than the diameter of the pin G The purpose of this is to render the alignment of the parts easy in assembling the machine and to prevent binding. The pins G and G are mounted or fixed in any suitable manner upon the frame A. being secured, for example, in relation to the channel member A These pins may, for example, be secured by transverse securing pins G in bosses G shown, for example, in Figure 3. The outer ends of the pins may be held, for example, by terminal brackets G and G associated with the base. In order to prevent rattling and to provide a take-up means, I illustrate an adjustable screw G in association with the boss or sleeve G as is shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 5. It will be noted that the pins G G 4 are slightly inclined in such variation that as the gauge plate structure is moved rearwardly from the cutting plane, it is also moved slightly laterally away from the cutting edge of the knife. It will be noted that the supporting engagement between the gauge plate structure and the pins G As will be clear from Figure 1,

G is positioned forwardly of the cutting plane at a point where it is readily accessible for adjustment or lubrication.

In order to impart movement to the gauge plate structure upon the pins G G I illustrate an actuating lever generally indicated as H. The details of the lever do not of themselves form part of the present invention but I provide an exterior metal handle H which may be pivoted in relation to the lever as at 1-1 The lever as a whole is pivoted as at H Integral with the lever H is a supplemental lever H to which is pivoted, as at H the link H which, in turn, is pivoted, as at H, to the actuating pin or rod H H is a yielding or coil spring take-up member to prevent lost motion, wear and rattling. The frame member A is cut away, as at 1-1 to permit the ready penetration of the pin or rod H there being no bearing engagement between the two. The rod H is secured in the boss G as by any suitable pin or screw II.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide an improved supporting and actuating means for the gauge plate of a rotary knife slicing machine. The function of the gauge plate is to gauge the thickness of the slices by limiting the distance the work can be thrust along the receiving trough D In operation, the user sets the gauge plate G at its desired gauging position and then moves the work up against it. He then moves the carriage D across the face of the gauge plate and against the cutting edge of the knife. The slices are received upon the surface of the slice receiver E. The gauge plate is set at any desired position by the movement of the lever H. The effect of the rotation of this lever about the axis is to impart longitudinal movement to the rod H This rod, however, is tied to the general gauge plate assembly which includes the member G and the member G which is bolted to it. The member G, by its bosses G G is slidably mounted upon the pins G G which project forwardly from the frame. The slice receiver E, which may be removable, serves to cover and protect the actuating mechanism, including the lever H. The overhang of the gauge plate and flange G prevents any material from getting over the top of the flange E The bearing sleeves (3: G are forwardly under the carriage D and can readily be reached for adjustment or lubrication. It will be noted that the pins G G extend from the front of the base and are positioned entirely forwardly of the cutting plane. This is advantageous in that they are easily reached, no part of them being housed or concealed at a point where foreign matter may gather or decay.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on the base and means for actuating it, a slice receiver mounted upon said base, a gauge plate, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage across the face of the gauge plate and past the 7 cutting edge of the knife, a forward flange for said slice receiver lying adjacent the cutting plane, and a plurality of guides fixed in relation to and extending forwardly from the base and supporting means for the gauge plate, lying forwardly of the slice receiver flange and slidable in relation to said guides, and actuating means for the gauge plate positioned on the side of the cutting plane opposite to the guides, said guides being cylindrical in form, the supporting means being provided with apertures through which said cylindrical guides may penetrate, there being a relatively tight fit between one of said guides and one of said apertures and a relatively loose fit between the other of said guides and the other of said apertures.

2. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on the base and means for actuating it, a slice receiver mounted upon said base, a gauge plate, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a forward flange for said slice receiver lying adjacent the cutting plane, and a plurality of guides fixed in relation to and extending forwardly from the base and supporting means for the gauge plate, lying forwardly of the slice receiver flange and slidable in relation to said guides, and actuating means for the gauge plate positioned on the side of the cutting plane opposite to the guides, said guides being cylindrical in form, the supporting means being provided with apertures through which said cylindrical guides may penetrate, there being a relatively tight fit between one of said guides and one of said apertures and a relatively loose fit between the other of said guides and the other of said apertures, and take-up means associated with the loosely fitting guide and aperture.

3. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on the base and means for actuating it, a slice receiver, a gauge plate, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, supporting means for the gauge plate lying forwardly of the slice receiver, and cylindrical tracks for said supporting means, forwardly of and exterior to the base and slice receiver, and extending substantially outwardly from the side of the cutting plane opposite the slice receiver, said supporting means being slidably mounted upon said tracks.

4. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a slice receiving means associated with said base and located to the rear of the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, supporting means for the gauge plate located entirely forwardly of the cutting plane of the knife, and guiding means therefor including track members located entirely forwardly of the cutting plane of the knife and extending forwardly from the base,

the base including a forward frame member ad- 1 jacent the cutting plane, adapted completely to separate the inner ends of said tracks from the interior of the base, whereby the entry of particles of foreign material into the interior of the base is prevented, and actuating means for moving said gauge plate support along said tracks, located to the rear of the cutting plane and beneath the slice receiver.

5. In a slicing machine, a base, a knife mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a slice receiving means associated with said base and located to the rear of the cutting plane of the knife, a gauge plate, a carriage and means for guiding the carriage across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, sun- 10 means for moving said gauge plate support along said tracks, located to the rear of the cutting plane and. beneath the slice receiver and an actuating connection between said actuating means and the gauge plate support, the said base frame member being apertured to permit the passage therethrough of said connection, at a point out of line with said tracks, said connection being at all times out of contact with said frame member.

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL. 

